I’m curious about the same thing
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Hi Guys,
I'm trying to decide on some electronics. I was all set to just go with Lowrance Hook 2s but now I'm thinking of going Garmin so that I can add LS down the road. Here is my concern, the Garmin units will be my only units for SI and DI and 2d Sonar. I've seen lots of comments about the SV especially not being that great on these units. If I buy the Garmins this month; I won't likely be ready to purchase LS till late this year, early next year. So, basically I want to know from those who use the Garmin ECHOMAP Plus units for SV and DV, do you like them? Do they work well for those purposes?
These would be my first HD, Color, Side Looking, Down Looking units....meaning I don't really think I can go wrong with anything at this point.
I fish almost exclusively shallow lakes for crappie. 30 ft or less, most of the time 20 ft or less.
Thanks for the advice and sharing your opinions and experience.
no matter what I'm doing, I've got hunting or fishing on my mind...Pondfisher42 thanked you for this post
I’m curious about the same thing
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I bought two of them last month to go on my new to me pontoon. The side imaging and down imaging are just as good as my Humminbird Helix (non mega) units. I think the mapping is way better than HB’s. I say they’re just as good because I’ve used the Garmins to look at the same structure and cover that I look at with the HB’s. The only problem I’ve had is learning the Garmin nomenclature. There’s not as many adjustments on the Garmins so it makes you think they can’t be dialed in, but they can. I’ve no experience with Livescope, but I’d like to play with it one day.
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Matt Howell LIKED above posthtr2133 thanked you for this post
the only downside is the number of pixels. i've never been able to regularly see fish using side imaging with them but no problem finding brush piles. i now use mine with livescope and i can definitely see the fish but it is not as clear as the 10" models because they have more pixels and processing power.
I'm now running a Helix 10 on the console for side imaging and livescope at the bow with a 93 SV +. i can definitely find the fish and catch more now than ever before!
Matt Howell, Pondfisher42 LIKED above posthtr2133 thanked you for this post
Thanks for the replies; that is what I needed to know. At the rate I'm going, I'm going to have 3k worth of electronics on a $1500 Jon Boat
no matter what I'm doing, I've got hunting or fishing on my mind...
I have the 93sv and while I don't think it's even close to the hb si especially the mega stuff it is very usable to find targets to fish.I am happy with it, the live scope is amazing. I do think that sometimes it will make the fish move when you point it at them. I may get a better head unit down the road.
htr2133 thanked you for this post
Thanks again everyone. What I'm hearing is the 93SV (NON-UHD) is plenty good to find structure, but not sharp enough to spot fish on said structure. I assume that mostly goes for SI; I've seen plenty of screen shots of fish on structure from DI with the older Garmin units? Is that fair to say?
no matter what I'm doing, I've got hunting or fishing on my mind...Pondfisher42 thanked you for this post
Some of the " shortcomings " can be negated by limiting the range while using SI. In that fish will mark bigger thus making them easier to see. When hunting I rarely use range above 50'. Also the higher frequencies 800 and above are great for detail but the 455 freq setting reveals more fish.
all comes down to my favorite saying you want to see fish or " pretty pictures " ?
Garminarmin gpsmap 1040 xs networked with Garmin gpsmap 1242 xsv , Panoptix PS 30 and PS 31. Livescope LVS 32
Ice rig Echomap Ultra 106SV with LVS 12 and GT10-IF